MEMORISE:
Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
2 Samuel 7:18
READ: 2 Samuel 6:14-21
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORDwith shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
MESSAGE
As a lecturer in the University of Lagos, when I became born again, I realized how close to heal I had been, in spite of all my academic knowledge. Because I saw the goodness of God in my life, I began to think of what I could do to publicly show God my appreciation for what He had done for me. So I sought the permission of my Father-in the Lord to sing, dance and recite “Ewi” (Yoruba poetry) to honor God at least once a year during our church convention. He gave me the go-ahead, and I began to do it annually. When I became the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), someone said to me, “since you are now our father, there are certain things elders must not be found doing, and such things are best left for the little ones.” He went on further to say that I must now sit like an elder in the church and let the children do the singing and dancing. My response was “Thank you very much, but for as long as my two legs can carry me and my voice can still be heard, I will sing and dance for the one who made me the General Overseer. I will praise and worship him for as long as I have the breath of life in me.” I pray that God will give you a heart of gratitude to day in Jesus’ Name.
A while ago, I was abroad at a world conference where several big men of God from all over the world were present. They also invited a small man like me and I went with my tambourine. One of the big preachers came tp me and asked, “What are you doing with a tambourine like an ordinary member of the choir? You are supposed to be the General Overseer, or is that not what they call you? God have mercy!” May you never stop showing gratitude to God for any reason in Jesus’ Name. when I became the General Overseer of RCCG, the total number of staff of the Bible College was three. There was a principal, myself and one other person, today, by the grace of God, in Nigeria alone, the number of full-time and part-time staff of our Bible College is well over a thousand. How can you then ask me not to praise God? If you desire greatness in your life, jump on your feet and let God hear you shout a big Hallelujah! As a matter of fact, if you only praise and worship God whenever you are in a Christian congregation or whenever you are told to do so, then the praise is not overflowing from a heart of gratitude; you are just following orders. Remember that God does not desire people who only give because they are told to do so. He desires those whose hearts spontaneously rise in joy with gratitude to Him whenever they remember His numerous benefits in their lives. If you appreciate the goodness of God in your life, shout a big hallelujah in His praise. You will forever have reasons to praise God in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, help me to see and appreciate your goodness in my life in Jesus’ Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 7; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 1: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD.
1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
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